The post-operative complications of endovascular aortic aneurysm repair

Endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) was first described in 1991. It has now been established as a technically feasible and successful procedure in the short-term and may be a viable long-term alternative to open aortic aneurysm repair. However, EVAR is associated with a significant risk of complication in terms of both procedural associated morbidity and operative mortality. These complications have important implications since if EVAR is to replace open aneurysm repair in the future it must be associated with equivalent or preferably better peri-operative mortality and long-term outcome. This paper reviews the current published data regarding the nature, incidence and implications of the complications of EVAR.